Method and apparatus for testing elongated objects having a non-circular cross-section
AssigneeInstitut Dr. Friedrich Forster
InventorFriedrich M. Forster
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test head through which passes a test object has at least one test probe guided in a circular orbital path around the test object. The shape of the circular orbital path of the probe, when considered in the travel direction of the object, diverges in a predetermined manner from a circular shape. A rotor guides the probe on a circular path, and the rotational axis of the rotor can be tilted with respect to the travel direction of the test object. The rotor is driven by a driving unit positioned laterally to the travel direction on a base plate by a belt drive which runs in a transmission element carrying the test head and linking it with a drive unit.
Claims10
A method for testing an elongated object having a non-circular cross section and comprising the steps of
- advancing the elongated object along a travel direction and through a rotating rotor which defines a rotational axis and which mounts at least one test probe,
- adjustably positioning the rotor so that its rotational axis is inclined with respect to the travel direction of the advancing elongated object and so that when considered in the travel direction, the test probe is guided in a probe orbit which diverges in a predetermined manner from a circular shape.
The method as defined in 1 wherein the test probe generates an electric output signal, and comprising the further step of electronically adjusting the output signal to compensate for small divergencies in the radial spacing between the surface of the elongated object and the orbiting test probe.
An apparatus for testing an elongated object having a non-circular cross-section and comprising
- a rotor mounting at least One test probe and being configured to permit an elongate object to be passed along a travel direction through the rotor,
- means mounting said rotor for rotation about a rotational axis which is adjustable so that it may be inclined with respect to the travel direction and so that when considered in the travel direction, the test probe is guided in a probe orbit which diverges in a predetermined manner from a circular shape, and
- means for rotating the rotor about its rotational axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.